Guide to Regulated Child Care - Supporting Child Care and ...

For questions, concerns or to file a complaint contact your regional office

Regional Offices Anne Arundel

Phone 410-573-9522

Baltimore City

410-554-8315

Baltimore County

410-583-6200

Prince George's

301-333-6940

Montgomery

240-314-1400

Howard

410-750-8771

Western Maryland, Allegany, Garrett & Washington

301-791-4585

Upper Shore, Kent, Dorchester, 410-819-5801 Talbot, Queen Anne's & Caroline

Lower Shore, Wicomico, Somerset 410-713-3430 & Worchester

Southern Maryland, Calvert, Charles & St. Mary's

301-475-3770

Harford & Cecil

410-569-2879

Resources

Child Care Scholarship - Assists parents with cost of child care 1-866-243-8796

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulates certain products used in child care

Maryland EXCELS - Maryland's Quality Rating System for child care facilities

Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council May assist with ADA issues md-

Maryland Family Network - Assists parents in locating child care

IMPACT Newsletter - What's happening in the Division of Early Childhood earlychildhood.

To this site to check provider inspection violations

Frederick

301-696-9766

Carroll

410-549-6489

The OCC Regional Office will investigate your complaint

to determine if child care licensing regulations have

been violated. All confirmed complaints against child

care providers may be viewed at .

For additional help, you may contact the Program Manager of the Licensing Branch at 410-569-8071.

Larry Hogan, Governor Karen B. Salmon, Ph.D. State Superintendent of Schools

OCC 1524 (10/2019)

Guide to

Regulated Child Care

Important Information About Child Care Facilities

Who Regulates Child Care?

All child care in Maryland is regulated by the Maryland State Department of Education, Office of Child Care's (OCC), Licensing Branch.

The Licensing Branch's thirteen Regional Offices are responsible for all regulatory activities, including:

Issuing child care licenses and registrations to child care facilities that meet state standards;

Inspecting child care facilities annually;

Providing technical assistance to child care providers;

Investigating complaints against regulated child care facilities;

Investigating reports of unlicensed (illegal) child care; and

Taking enforcement action when necessary.

COMAR Regulations and other information about the Office of Child Care may be found at:

earlychildhood.child-careproviders/office-child-care

What are the types of Child Care Facilities?

Family Child Care ? care in a provider's home for up to eight (8) children

Large Family Child Care? care in a provider's home for 9-12 children

Child Care Center ? non-residential care

Letter of Compliance (LOC) ? care in a child care center operated by a religious organization for children who attend their school

All facilities must meet the following requirements:

Must obtain the approval of OCC, fire department and local agencies;

Must have qualified staff who have received criminal background checks, child abuse and neglect clearances, and are not on the sex offender registry;

Family child care providers must maintain certification in First Aid and CPR;

Child care centers must maintain a ratio of one staff certified in first aid and CPR per every twenty (20) children at all times;

Must offer a daily program of indoor and outdoor activities;

Must maintain a file with all required documentation for each enrolled child;

Must post approved evacuation plans, conduct fire drills and emergency preparedness drills; and

Must report suspected abuse and neglect, and may not subject children to abuse, neglect, mental injury or injurious treatment.

Did You Know?

Regulations that govern child care facilities may be found at: earlychildhood.regulations

The provider's license or registration must be posted in a conspicuous place in the facility;

A child care provider must enter into a written agreement, with a parent, that specifies fees, discipline policy, presence of animals, the use of volunteers, and sleeping arrangements for overnight care;

Parents/guardians may visit the facility without prior notification any time their children are present;

Written permission from parents/guardians is required for children to participate in any and all off property activities;

All child care facilities must make reasonable accommodations for children with special needs;

A "Teacher" qualified person must be assigned to each group of children in a child care center;

Staff:child ratios must be maintained at all times in child care centers;

Parents/guardian must be immediately notified if children are injured or have an accident in care;

Child care facilities may have policies beyond regulatory requirements;

OCC should be notified if a provider has violated child care regulations;

Parents/guardians may review the public portion of a licensing file; and

The provider's compliance history may be reviewed on .

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